Dear Crabby, will my marriage last if we cheer for different teams?

Dear Crabby,
My wife went to the University of Michigan and I went to Michigan State. Will our marriage suffer if we cheer against each other at sporting events?

Sincerely,
Sparty On

Dear Sparty On,
Well, I am guessing you are somewhat of a newlywed. Mostly because if you think you will always be on the same side on things, you have a lot to learn about marriage. It is not about what side you cheer for, it is about getting along in spite of who the other cheers for. However, I do know that college sports have a very loyal following. I learned this the hard way. I grew up with my Irish Grandmother watching every Notre Dame Football game that she could, buying Notre Dame sheets for my bed and a Notre Dame trashcan for my room, and teaching me all about the Four Horsemen at bedtime! By the time I even knew what football was, I was cheering for the Fighting Irish with all my heart. As I became a teenager, my older sister went off to college at none other than Michigan State University. This was no problem yet; it just gave me two schools to cheer for every Saturday. However, it didn’t take me long to realize that they play against each other every year! I had to make sure I was not in the same room as my grandma when that happened. I honestly did not know what to do at those games. I found myself sitting quietly and just hoping for a good clean game. There was no cheering or booing, just happiness at seeing both teams competing. Come to think of it, that is how most of these kid leagues are these days anyway, with no one keeping score and every game ending in a tie. But as far as your marriage goes, you are not the first one to marry someone from across enemy lines! I would suggest you guys keep it playful and fun, never take it too seriously. You see those couples with the green and white chair and the maize and blue chair on the front porch all the time. Play it up, invite friends over, call the room the “Great Divide” and make fans choose their team and where they sit. Maybe make a wager on who will have to do dishes for the next week. I think you get the picture. Good luck and let me know how it turns out, unless it turns ugly- then write to Dear Abby instead.

Sincerely,
Dear Crabby

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